MAR. 3, 2026

Embrace "the whole counsel of God"

"I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." Ac 20:27 NKJV

More than a hundred years ago, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, spoke prophetically when he said, "The chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell."

That's as true now as it was then. Paul exhorted the leaders of the Ephesian church to declare, "The whole counsel of God." He said: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears" (vv. 28-31 NKJV).

On the eve of his execution, Paul handed off the baton to his successor Timothy with these words: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables...be watchful...fulfill your ministry" (2Ti 4:2-5 NKJV).

Embrace "the whole counsel of God" Forgiveness without repentance

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MAR. 2, 2026

Having a Spirit-controlled tongue (2)

"The tongue is a flame of fire." Jas 3:6 NLT

The Bible says, "A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And...the tongue is a flame of fire" (vv. 5-6 NLT). People living in hot climates know the danger of ravaging bushfires driven by desert winds and can readily identify with these words: "See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" (v. 5 NKJV). A single spark from a match has started many massive fires. Spreading faster and farther than we might ever imagine, that kind of fire destroys homes and businesses worth millions of dollars, leaving a scorched landscape and devastated lives. Similarly, how many reputations have been ruined by a careless word? The impact of our words spreads far and fast, especially in our digital age. Words published on any social media platform can be shared all over the world in seconds. Like a fire, that word can get out of control and do irreparable damage. Hence James wrote: "No man can tame the tongue" (v. 8 NKJV).

But God can. "The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control" (Gal 5:22-23 NKJV).

The Holy Spirit can take a tongue that peddles gossip and turn it into one that brings glory to God. He can take a tongue that spews bitterness and turn it into one that speaks blessing. Gossip is saying something behind someone's back that you would never say to that person's face.

Flattery is saying something to someone's face that you would never say behind the person's back. And both are wrong. So let's join the Psalmist in praying: "May these words of my mouth...be pleasing in your sight, Lord" (Ps 19:14 NIV).

Having a Spirit-controlled tongue Reputations have been ruined by a careless word.

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FEB. 23, 2026

Stay true to the truth of God's Word.

"Go after them." Jas 5:19-20 MSG

The Bible says, "If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction" (vv. 19-20 MSG).

That means it's possible for a true believer to do this. It also means we must never put our convictions on the shelf. If we don't make a deliberate effort to stay close to the truth of God's Word, we will wander from it.

After all, we live in a world with lots of distractions. Today many people are on a quest for "unity at all costs" and are therefore devaluing the importance of the truth as revealed in God's Word. Knowing he would soon die as a martyr for his faith, the apostle Paul wrote to his successor Timothy: "Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of" (2Ti 3:14 NIV).

Then in 2 Timothy 4:2-5, he encouraged Timothy: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship...discharge all the duties of your ministry" (NIV). So the word for you today is-stay true to the truth of God's Word.

Stay true to the truth of God's Word

The importance of the truth

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